Dear NOVA Members,

If I were to ask if you wanted a national NOVA Board Member to provide a presentation on the importance of belonging to a professional nursing organization to the nurses at your VA facility, what would you say? In case you are not aware, focusing on member outreach initiatives is a priority for the national NOVA Board.

The 2021 national NOVA Board of Directors: President Kelly D. Skinner, President Elect: TJ Wilcox-Olson, Treasurer/Secretary Ruth Holmes, Membership Secretary Cathy Giasson, Immediate Past President Thelma Roach-Serry, and Directors: Theresa Presley, Yvette Twum-Danso, Betty Ogren, Steven Powell, Miriam Rogers Holy and Cindy Solomon are passionate about NOVA’s mission to educate, communicate, and advocate for the VA nurse professionally, personally and legislatively. NOVA’s vision is for VA nurses to provide high quality nursing care, have an optimal work environment, and be informed on relevant issues that impact VA health care and nursing practice. We strive to maintain a strong voice in the legislative arena, have a presence at the VHA corporate leadership level and aim for VA  nurses to be NOVA members. 

NOVA continuously invests in its board members to promote strategic vision. In August 2021, NOVA board members: Kelly D. Skinner, Ruth Holmes, Cathy Giasson, Thelma Roach-Serry, Betty Ogren, Cindy Solomon, Miriam Rogers Holy, Deb Dupnik and TJ Wilcox Olson attended the Nursing Alliance Leadership Academy (NALA) Virtual Event. The presentations  addressed knowledge related to board leadership roles, responsibilities, governance, and organizational strategies for success. This was a great educational opportunity to increase innovation and improve board performance.

To better serve you, the NOVA Board is eager to enhance knowledge and to raise awareness related to the numerous benefits of NOVA membership including education, certification partnerships, tuition discounts, education scholarships, mentorship, networking, committee participation opportunities, webinars, blog, newsletter, and many more. In 2021, Eula Davis, MPH, MSN, RN-AMB, Nurse Educator, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC, Pennsylvania; Kim Schmidt, MSN, CCRN, Deputy Educator, Tomah VAMC, Wisconsin; and Tess Ramos, MSN-Ed, RN, Chief Nurse, Education, Salt Lake City VA, Utah reached out to NOVA and requested  support to help promote NOVA at their facility. NOVA board members: Kelly D. Skinner, TJ Wilcox-Olson, and Cathy Giasson; Nurse Emeritus/NOVA Past President Nancy Claflin; and Director of Advocacy and Government Relations Teresa Morris discussed the positive impact of belonging to a professional nursing organization with the nurses. While in Utah, Teresa Morris and I were able to visit with Penny Kaye Jensen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, FAANP VACO/ONS, National APRN Program Manager and NOVA APRN Committee Chairperson. It is essential to establish and continue a beneficial relationship and trust between NOVA and our members. 

Please do not hesitate to contact NOVA by emailing nova@vanurse.org to schedule a virtual or in person presentation. NOVA board members are from the states of Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, South Carolina, Indiana, Texas, and Maryland, and are also willing to drive to a nearby VA facility for an in person visit.  

Since NOVA was founded in 1980, it has grown to represent all VA nurses – APRNs, RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and is the only professional organization for VA nurses who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Let’s get the word out!

With appreciation, 

Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN 

Thelma Roach-Serry, BSN, RN, NE-BC

National NOVA Immediate Past President

Central Virginia VA HCS, Richmond, VA

NOVA Chapter 420 

Robyn Jones Roots

Robyn Jones Roots, MSN, RN, CDN, VHA-CM is a native of Tampa, Florida. She works for the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS) in Richmond, Virginia. Her nursing background has focused on Nephrology since 1991 as a clinician, educator, researcher, and administrator. She is currently a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner and is the coordinator of the New Nurse Orientation and National Nursing Education Initiative programs. 

Robyn is actively involved with committees and initiatives for CVHCS such as the Preventive Ethics Team, Employee Incentive Scholarship Program as chair, and Certified Mentoring Program. She is also a Clinical Instructor for Valor Nursing students. Robyn is a nurse advocate in the health community both nationally and locally through the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA), St. Paul's Baptist Church Caring Hearts Nursing Ministry, the American Diabetes Association and National Kidney Foundation, Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) along with committees such as Adult Vascular Access/Venous Catheter Care and Healthcare Initiative, Black Nurses of Hillsborough County Historical Organization and the NOVA Chapter 420.

Robyn is an entrepreneur, life coach and the CEO of Kidneykeeper and Canaroots Consultants, LLC. She is involved with shaping healthcare policy, development of workshops and health fairs to educate the public about hypertension, diabetes,  kidney disease and the medicinal use of cannabis. 

As a nurse by day and film director during evenings and weekends, Ms. Roots is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and visionary of Klosa’ Productions. She started her film making career in 2016 as Executive Producer of the award-winning film The Turnaround. Her passion for nursing is always at the forefront of her movie development. Robyn has been executive producer and/or  co-producer  for several films including Truthless, Jump and a short film about her own life called Did Showing Up Save My Life?

Ms. Roots demonstrated her honed finesse with the production of 2020 Year of the Nurse which was launched on May 6, 2021 in celebration of Nurses Week. This project is told from the perspective of people of color who share their experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic and racism as a medical professional. The film was submitted to multiple film festivals including PBS. The film was nominated in the Bronzelens Film Festival for Best Documentary with over 700 film submissions. The world premiere of the film on August 18, 2021 with viewers as far as Australia and Granada received rave reviews. The 2020 Year of the Nurse was awarded the title “Best Documentary” at the 12th Annual Bronzelens Film Festival. The trailer is available for viewing on YouTube.

Robyn has been featured in national publications and a guest on several social media platforms for her expertise with filmmaking, nursing, renal healthcare, entrepreneurship and the empowerment of women. 

For more information, contact Robyn at robyn.klosaproductions@gmail.com or via Instagram and Facebook at 2020 Year of the Nurse Movie.   

Niamh Daly, BSN, RN

Assistant Nurse Manager, Ambulatory Surgery Unit

VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA

NOVA Chapter 226

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is an exclusive membership with a mission to “maintain a bond of brotherhood among living recipients, to promote patriotism and the principles on which our nation was founded”. 

Thirty of the nation's sixty-nine living Medal of Honor Recipients returned to Boston September 7-11, 2021 for an unprecedented fourth time. Throughout the week, the Veterans and their loved ones had the opportunity to attend many outreach events including the 2020 & 2021 Citizen Honors Award for Valor Ceremony. On Friday, September 10, 2021, the Veterans gathered at Our Lady of Good Voyage to celebrate those that have passed away. Saturday, September 11, 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, and the Veterans boarded the USS Constitution and enjoyed a cruise of the Boston Harbor on a beautiful summer's evening. During their stay, the recipients and their families were greeted by other Veterans, active-duty military personnel, and members of the community. 

Many thanks to the Boston Medal of Honor Convention Committee for organizing a flawless event. A heartfelt thank you to Ted Mulvehill and Jane Barnes who requested that the VA Boston Healthcare System Nurses be onsite to welcome and provide assistance to the recipients and their loved ones. NOVA Nurses were honored to be present in the company of our nation’s most courageous and selfless Veterans. 

Volunteers: Mike Meegan, UC JP; Kattie Davis, NM ASU; Lisa Robinson; AMN ASU; Niamh Daly, ANM ASU; Owen McDonald, PBNR; Haley Richard, PBNR; Sophia Door, PBRN; Danielle Newman, NM UC; Kelly Sullivan, CRN; Laikyn Nadeau, ANM MICU; Kelly Lister, JP OR; Bing Drew, ANM SC LB; Michael Joseph, Heme/Onc JP; and Billy Jo Watson, UC JP.

If you're looking for a chance to interact with like-minded colleagues while strengthening your ostomy education, please consider registering for the award-winning WOCN ® Ostomy Education Day! Take a look at the all-star lineup of speakers and sessions and register (FOR FREE!) by  clicking here. Don't forget to mark your calendar for Saturday, October 2, from 10:00 AM - 5:15 PM ET.

Back for its second year, this full day of free online engagement and education is aimed at  celebrating ostomy awareness, dispelling myths, and increasing ostomy education to improve patient outcomes. It will feature 8 engaging sessions brought to you by experienced wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing professionals and subject matter experts and will award a total of 6.75 Contact Hours.

Contact info@wocn.org for more information.

Cynthia Solomon-Ramos, MS, RN, ACNP-BC

Director, National NOVA Board

NOVA Chapter 420 Secretary/Treasurer, Central Virginia VA HCS, Richmond, VA

Glenda A. Tisdale, DNP, RN

Chief Nurse of Surgical and Specialty Services

NOVA Chapter 274, VA Medical Center, New Hampshire

Dr. Glenda A. Tisdale is currently the Chief Nurse of Surgical and Specialty Services at the Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire. She launched into this new position in 2020 amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a seasoned nurse since the 1990’s and with over 13 years of experience in the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) she accepted this new challenge with a positive, forward-thinking perspective. 

Dr. Tisdale acknowledges that her transformational leadership style has been instrumental in maintaining the strength of her nursing staff during these unprecedented times and has helped guide the department to a higher level of nursing. Through this model, she leads by example to motivate her staff. She values open rapport to help change the system, boost morale, and achieve well-defined goals creatively as a team.

Dr. Tisdale notes that her leadership role has developed and enhanced through a culmination of clinical nursing practice experiences, administrative prowess, and the advancement of her academic pursuits. Her wealth of nursing practice started with a general Medical-Surgical background as a foundation. She expanded her clinical knowledge base with experiences in Mental Health and Emergency Nursing creating a strong cornerstone which she utilized to broaden her career in health care. Her advances in education and academia have allowed her to better understand the need for a global perspective to have a far-reaching impact within nursing practice. Her ability to see the “big” picture and use of critical thinking skills were honed during her educational journey. These are essential tools that are required to be a great communicator in the workplace and in implementing her transformational leadership style.  Dr. Tisdale credits Ms. Loretta Penn, Associate Professor at George Washington University, as being her role model and mentor providing guidance and encouragement throughout her doctorate program. 

Dr. Tisdale expresses that every good leader should possess the ability to show compassion in any situation. Her resolve to continue cultivating her own leadership development includes active participation in leadership and management training sessions, professional networking with other healthcare leaders, and collaboration and team building between all levels in the DVA. Given the immensity of the DVA, she was asked how she tries to prevent the “institution” from dampening the “inspiration”. Dr. Tisdale remains true to her nursing model stating that keeping staff connected to one another, providing opportunities for open communication to share ideas freely, and encouraging shared decision making allows for a more engaged workforce. She would advise those just starting their first leadership position to take every opportunity to learn new skills, listen to others ideas and opinions, and keep an open mind. As a leader, you will be confronted with conflict and divergent opinions. These situations must be addressed expeditiously using emotional intelligence, professionalism, and clear communication. 

Dr. Tisdale reflects favorably on her accomplishments thus far and the many more to be forthcoming.  She credits the DVA as it has provided a multitude of opportunities allowing her to enhance her leadership skills. Dr. Tisdale’s experiences as a nurse leader in the VA have shown her how essential it is to be in a safe work environment with staff who have a common professional goal of caring for our Veterans. 

Dr. Tisdale also commented on the importance of being a NOVA member. She states the NOVA mission to educate, communicate and advocate for professional nurses gives her inspiration to continue learning and passing that inspiration on to other nurse professionals. Nursing has gone through many notable changes since the 1990’s when she started her nursing career. NOVA has been a platform for change and gives nurses a voice at the “proverbial table”.  Nursing's contribution to the decision making process directly affects morale and the thriving advancement of our profession. This is why NOVA is important to her and it is an organization of which she wants to continue to be a part.

The nurse executive role is a specialty with a broad scope and boundless depth. The positioning of nurses within leadership is essential to the success of each VA medical center and facility throughout the DVA.

On behalf of NOVA, I would like to thank Dr. Glenda A. Tisdale for taking the time to answer our leadership questions and providing insight into her specialty practice.